Day of Travel

I have been thinking of why we didn't bring Jason & Becky out west growing up.  Several things may have been the issue.  For one, it is a two week trip.  That is time off and the expense of motels/food for four.  Also, we loved the beach.  Growing up, they like going to Florida.  Another thing, Jason played baseball and that was in the summer, we went on vacations typically during spring break....which was one week.  Me working at a school, I only took spring break off during the school year.  

Coming west in the summer there are so many more tourists in Yellowstone.  You have to time it right, not to come too early or too late!  Since coming, I keep thinking "would children like this trip?" It is a LOT of driving, unless you fly out and rent a car.  Which is super nice.  We like driving, since we have the convertible.  And, as mentioned, we make stops along the way.  Would kids like seeing Mount Rushmore, yes.  However, once they do, what next?  A lot of beautiful scenery.  Huge boulders, rock formations (but they can't climb most of them), and more driving.  It's not Disney where there are rides/attractions.  Or many putt putt courses along the way (there may be but not on every corner), or kiddie type of things.  So, plan well young families!  Do your homework to find things they will like.  

Today, we left Hill City, SD, and rode toward Cody, Wyoming.  First stop was Deadwood, SD, neat town.  Brick streets, where Wild Bill Hickok was shot from behind and killed while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota, by Jack McCall, an unsuccessful gambler.

We stopped at the Pump House, an old gas station turned into a deli/cafe with a glass blowing business inside.  Beautiful (pricey) pieces.  The Traynor's (again, thanks!) gave us the heads up on this place.  Pictures to follow.


Rode into Lead, SD, and took Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.  We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls, and headed west to where we are tonight, Cody, Wyoming.  Tomorrow is Yellowstone and more.  Here are a few photos from today, which was mostly traveling the 6 1/2 hour drive from Rushmore to Cody.

 This was our first stop after eating a big breakfast, too early for lunch.  Everything looked good!

The original location where Wild Bill was shot.

This was an Indian Motorcycle Shop, and look who we saw there!  Mike & Frank, the pickers. (not)

 There was a five day Austin-Healey car show in Deadwood last week.  All weekend, they have been all over the roads in Rushmore.  A fella told us there were 280 registered for this show. They were made from 1953 to 1966 (I think he said, there about).

One issue with using the camera, I don't take as many photos as I do with my cell camera.  Therefore, tonight as late as it is getting, I don't take time to download both.  This is a terrible photo of Bridal Veil Falls, along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.  

Tomorrow is Yellowstone and Clyde just told me he had ten stops planned.  Early morning if we want to see animals.  So goodnight!

Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway & Custer National Park

This has been the best weather day, sunny & warm, so top was down all day.  We stopped by Mount Rushmore yesterday (twice) and again today.  The military night program last night was a "bust".  The monument was lit up for the dark but the fog set in, so you couldn't see it.  I'll add photos.  

Crazy Horse was just a "drive by".  We were already running a bit late getting there, and didn't want to spend a lot of time there, so we just drove up to look at it.  Clyde has been out west four other times (that I can recall) and has walked through the museum.  

From there we drove on the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. It is a scenic drive of twists & turns with giant columns of granite rock that reached up to the sky.  So cool...looked like tall, skinny needles!  

We didn't see any buffalo herds but four bulls, they are separated from the herd now.  A band of friendly burros that our friend, Valerie, told us about.  She even told me where to buy the carrots to feed them.  That was a highlight today.

 Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln

I have better photos of Mt. Rushmore, but having trouble downloading.  So, this will do.  It was pretty neat, seeing those famous leader's faces...just carved in the rock!  The story of how the location was chosen.  Pretty spectacular!  

Crazy Horse is the world's largest mountain carving, in progress.  The first blast occurred June 3, 1948.  Once completed, this carving will be 563 feet high and 641 feet long.  The face of Crazy Horse stands 87.5 feet high.  

The heads carved at Mount Rushmore are 60 feet high.

Sylvan Lake was a nice beginning of our ride on our way to Needles Highway.

 Needles Eye Tunnel, you take your turn going through!

 I kept singing "Home, Home on the Range".....but not many buffalo were roaming on our drive today.

 I have video of our attempt to feed the burros carrots. Thanks Valerie for the tip!  It was fun!!  

 Clyde liked this wooden bridge and asked me to take pics of it.

Badlands and Wall Drug South Dakota

We got a good day in today.  Started by driving west from Murdo, SD, where we stayed overnight (Sat. night) our first stop was Badlands National Park.  Acreage is 244,000,  est. in 1939 as a National Monument and in 1978 redesigned as Badlands National Park.  It is VAST!  Many cool formations/rocks.   At one stop we saw a herd of Pronghorn Antelope.  They were up close to where we stood.  

Today is another day.  The photos/words above wouldn't "post" last night (late) when we got in the room.  The cells both connected to the internet, but not this laptop.  It's what I use to blog...keyboard!  So, we finished at the short night program at Rushmore.  It was not a success as fog set in and we couldn't see the monument. However, we were there earlier in the afternoon, so that was cool.  We will go back today.  

We will see Crazy Horse today...and so much more!  I'll post again this evening.  Weather is cool.  Crowds are low.  Cost at all motels are lower than all summer, which is nice.  Amazing sites.  I am in awe.

Lauritzen Gardens

Days run into the other, but today is Saturday and we stayed overnight last night in Omaha, Nebraska.  When Clyde was pouring over the internet, he found that the Botanical Gardens in Omaha were pretty much on our way west.  He wanted to break up our drive each day, so we spent the morning touring the massive gardens.  The price per ticket was a small price for a wonderful morning.  He said several times, it was sure worth the stop...and the price of admission ($10 each).  Honestly, so well kept.  I filled out a form saying so.  If we had more time, we would have also gone to the Omaha Zoo (very nearby).  I will add some photos, but I have more than I can share.  I may not take the time to download the camera pics....too many to decide!

LAURITZEN GARDENS

 Below are the trains that captivated Clyde's attention!  He loved them, there were six of them on different tracks.  So cool!!!

 Below is the rose garden, many beds of roses.  When I worked at Clays Mill, Barbara Vogler did as well.  She & her husband, John, had a house near there with a border of roses.  I don't know how many.  They were glorious.  So were these today.  

 The conservatory is fantastic!  So large, with fountains, flowers, trees, shrubs....more.

 We stopped for a quick look at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.

 All the murals are made with corn cobs.

This was at the last rest stop of today and it was worth the stop!

"Dignity" is 50 ft. tall, 16 ft. deep and 32 feet wide.  The statue boldly proclaims that South Dakota's Native cultures are alive, standing with dignity.